Criminal Defendant

Definition - What does Criminal Defendant mean?

A criminal defendant is a person who is being formally charged with a crime. Like any defendant, a criminal defendant is the party that is being held accountable by the court system and who is opposing the plaintiff. A criminal defendant is tasked with defending their actions and will employ a criminal lawyer to represent them.

Justipedia explains Criminal Defendant

In a criminal case, the plaintiff is the state or country in which the defendant committed the crime that they are being held to account for. The act of getting charged with a crime is what makes a person a criminal defendant. Criminal defendants have several rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to a jury trial, and the right to a lawyer.